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To maintain financial aid and student employment eligibility, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress. These standards apply to all periods of enrollment at WNC, including Summer, whether or not you have received financial aid.

Qualitative Standard

Grade Point Average: Financial Assistance students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all coursework regardless of whether or not assistance was received. If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 2.0, he is ineligible for financial assistance and is placed on financial assistance suspension, even if he completed all of his units. Only units attempted at WNC are considered in this calculation.

Unacceptable Grades:

“F”

Failure of the class.

“W”

Failure of the class or official or unofficial withdrawal.

“I”

Incomplete. Cannot be evaluated for satisfactory progress; but is considered as
evidence the student did not officially withdraw.

“X”

In progress. Cannot be evaluated for satisfactory progress.

“AD”

Audit. For financial assistance, a student may not take a class for audit.
Any assistance received for an audited class must be repaid.

“NR”

Grade not reported. Cannot be evaluated for satisfactory progress.

Quantitative Standard

Academic Completion Rate or Pace: At a minimum, a student must satisfactorily complete 67% of all classes attempted each semester. If the student has not completed 67% for the most recently attempted semester, he is ineligible for financial assistance and is placed on financial assistance suspension, even if he completed all of his units during previous semesters. In addition, a student must maintain a cumulative completion rate or pace of 67% or higher. If a student’s cumulative completion rate or pace is not at 67%, he is ineligible for financial assistance and is placed on financial assistance suspension. Only units attempted at WNC are considered in this calculation.

Maximum Timeframe (Maximum Number of Units for Degree Program)

For Financial Assistance purposes a student is limited to attempting 150% of the units required for
their specific degree program. Students enrolled in an associate degree program are allowed a maximum of two associate degrees and/or a maximum of 90 attempted units (60 units x 150%), whichever comes first. Students enrolled in a certificate program are allowed a maximum of two certificates and/or a maximum of 45 attempted units (30 units x 150%), whichever comes first. For students enrolled in the Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management degree, the maximum number of units is 192 (128 units x 150%). Payments for degrees or classes beyond these limits are at the student’s own expense. Students may still be eligible for Millennium, outside scholarships, tribal funds, outside agency funding, Veteran’s Benefits, alternative Loans and third party payments.

For Transfer Students: Units taken at other post-secondary education institutions that are accepted for transfer credit by WNC will be counted toward the 150% unit maximum. Transfer units will not be considered when calculating GPA and academic completion rates.

Repeated Course Work: Repeated units will be counted as attempted units toward the maximum number of allowable units (150% of a degree program).

Degree/Certificate Programs

To be eligible for financial assistance, a student must declare with WNC Admissions and Records their intent to obtain a degree or certificate in a financial-aid-eligible program. It is the responsibility of transfer students to order transcripts from institutions previously attended and request that those courses be evaluated for transfer toward a degree or certificate at WNC.

Students who continue taking classes at WNC after a degree or certificate of achievement is finalized should be aware that their degree status might be changed to non-degree-seeking status. WNC graduates who plan to strive towards a different degree or certificate should declare this by submitting a degree program change form to Admissions and Records after the semester in which their graduation date has occurred. This is especially important for students applying for and/or receiving financial aid. Failure to declare a new degree or certificate could result in revocation and requirement of repayment of financial aid funds.

Not Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress

Receiving all “W” or “F” Grades: If a student receives all “W” or “F” grades for a semester, the Financial Assistance Office will determine the last date of attendance and calculate any repayment the student may owe for funds received. If unable to determine the last date of attendance, the 50% date will be used for the Return of Title IV (R2T4) determination.

Financial Assistance Suspension: If at any time the student’s semester or cumulative completion rate drops below 67% and/or the cumulative grade point average drops below a 2.0, the student’s eligibility for financial assistance is suspended.

Reinstatement of Financial Assistance: If a student has been denied receipt of financial assistance due to unsatisfactory academic progress, the student must, at his own expense, achieve the minimum completion rate of 67% for all units attempted before assistance eligibility is reinstated. If the cumulative completion rate remains at or above 67% but the semester average drops below 67%, the student must complete, at his own expense, the same number of units for which he received an “F” or “W” grade in the prior term to re-establish his eligibility. The cumulative grade point average must also be 2.0 or higher.

Financial Assistance Appeal Process: If a student is placed on financial assistance suspension, the student may appeal to the Financial Assistance Appeals Committee. The student must complete a Financial Assistance Appeal and Academic Plan form with an Academic Counselor.

Not Meeting Qualitative or Quantitative Standards:
Student appeals are typically based on an unforeseen medical issue, death of a relative, or other special circumstances which resulted in the student not achieving the units or grade point average required by WNC Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. The appeal may be strengthened with supporting documentation written by a third party on letterhead that verifies the student’s situation. Third party documentation may also include instructor’s verification of the students last date of attendance, letters from doctors, statements from hospitals, etc. Additional documentation is required for medical reasons, death, or other special circumstances. The Financial Assistance Appeals Committee will consider the student’s written statement, all supporting documentation, prior academic history, and potential for academic success prior to determining a decision.

Students will be notified of the decision in writing, and the decision by the Financial Assistance Appeals Committee is final and cannot be appealed further.

Financial Assistance Probation:
If an appeal is approved for probation, the student will be placed on probation for one semester. Students must complete 67% of the units attempted during the probationary semester. The student must also maintain a 2.0 GPA during the probationary semester.

Failure to satisfactorily meet the terms of a probationary period will result in the immediate suspension of financial assistance eligibility.

Financial Assistance Academic Plan:
Students are required to meet the conditions of Financial Assistance Probation. Students who meet the terms of probation, but are not yet meeting the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements must continue meeting the terms outlined in an Academic Plan to continue receiving financial assistance. Additionally, students who are submitting a second appeal requesting an additional probationary semester and are approved by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee are required to follow terms outlined in an Academic Plan to receive financial assistance. The Academic Plan will outline specific requirements that the student must meet until he is able to reach the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. The student must complete a Financial Assistance Appeal and Academic Plan form with an Academic Counselor.

Exceeding the Maximum Timeframe (Maximum Number of Units for Degree Program):
Exceptions to the maximum limits may be considered on an individual basis. Students who have units that need to be completed for their degree program may submit a maximum unit appeal and a degree audit report for consideration by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The student must complete a Financial Assistance Appeal and Academic Plan form with Academic Counselor and obtain a copy of his degree progress report from the Academic Counselor.

Repeated Courses

All repeated courses will be counted as attempted units when calculating the maximum unit limit. Financial aid funding is limited to only one repeat of any particular course, if the repeat is to improve a grade of "D" or higher. Repeats of failed classes or those with "W" grades are allowed. When units are repeated, the grade earned in the latest class will be used to determine the student's GPA. If it is discovered that a student has converted from graded to non-graded (audit) status after receiving aid, the student may be required to repay all or a portion of the aid received. Special conditions may apply.